Honor

After a long day's journey, Hanzo and Takeda arrive to their destination: The First Temple of the Shirai Ryu. Takeda was astonished by the sight. He noted the selection of warriors still frozen among the battlefield, although none of them were wearing anything that resembled the Shirai Ryu. Even with numerous men still there, these numbers paled compared to what was shown in the history books, and far more so when those who survived are included.

"Are you amazed boy?" Hanzo asked.

"I never imagined seeing this place in person. I learned of it in school once, but nothing as graphic as this," he said.

"You are much too young. They would not expose someone of your age to such a gruesome thing as this. I remember Satoshi's books from school giving the short and sweet version of the event."

"So, I'm assuming that letter was from someone related to Bi Han? Someone like his brother?" Takeda asked.

"You know too much for your age, yet it may be the best asset you have," he complimented.

"Are you sure he wants to have a peaceful conversation?"

"They do not. I brought you here to show you a path that does not involve vengeance," he responded.

"And if you die?" Takeda wondered. Hanzo chuckled.

"Then I would hope you succeed in avenging your master seeing as my path would present the clear answer," he joked. He was still worried about his decision to bring Takeda with him, however. The group they will be meeting are not like others. Takedawill be far too inexperienced to defend himself if they were to attack him. He was hoping that wouldn't occur.

"You know, it's been almost a month since my pops came back. And since I've been spending my days under you, I was wondering…"

"I will train you as I've agreed," Hanzo interrupted. "There are many techniques you must learn if you ever want to save your mother." Takeda stopped walking and Hanzo proceeded to do the same.

"What makes you believe she's still alive?" he asked. "After all this time, why would they still be holding her?"

"The red dragon are an unpredictable bunch," he said. "Anyone else would have fallen to their warriors, but not Kenshi & I. Their brutality can be a distraction and lead to your death."

"You know something don't you?" Takeda questioned. Before Hanzo could say anything, he holds his arm out across Takeda's chest. Takeda attempts to use his telekinesis trying to detect what, or who, was hiding from them. He focuses his mind on the many separate hiding spots in the area as his ability to hear the surrounding area simultaneously was not yet possible. His efforts found a woman standing behind one of the frozen Lin Kuei warriors. The individual's moment of fear upon looking in Hanzo's direction gave away her position. It was the only thing that made it possible seeing how the individual's heartbeat had been non-existent. Nothing aside from her brain activity was visible in the boy's mind.

"Master Hanzo," he whispered. He points to the woman as he informs Hanzo of her position.

"There are two more in the area, son. Can you find them?" Hanzo questioned.

"No," Takeda responded. "If I could, it would've been moments ago. The other two haven't given off any emotion to our presence here."

"I do not mean with your telekinesis Takahashi. Can you detect them by the sleight of their movements? Their fidgeting fingertips along the frozen corpses?"

"How can you hear anything with the continual crackling of the ice? It sounds as if it should've all been thawed or shattered centuries ago."

"Bi Han's powers were said to be strong enough to take on the Lords themselves. Combine such power with the Dragon Medallion now in possession by his younger brother and you'll get this." As they finish talking amongst one another, Siann spin away from the pillar from which she stood behind. Mika, who was very near the young Takeda, cartwheels herself away from one of the frozen bodies behind them. Takeda quickly turns around and attempts to unsheathe the knife he had hidden behind the back of his left inner arm sleeve. He swings the blade against the woman, only for the blade to break against her leg as she raised it to defend herself.

"Oh honey," Mika said ever so sweetly, "toys like that won't harm me." She looks at Hanzo as he menacingly glanced in the girl's direction. Mika jumps further over away from the two, keeping some distance between them. Takeda turns his head back towards the one he spotted earlier. Sora walked away from the frozen warrior she had been standing behind. Hanzo let out a single snicker and looked back at Takeda.

"That explains why you could sense that one," he said.

"Who are they?" Takeda asked, still in a bit of shock.

"Quan Chi's undead warriors from the Brotherhood of Shadows. Except, they are called the Sisterhood," Hanzo stated.

"I would assume so," Takeda commented.

"They are different," Hanzo added. "Of the women who are in the Brotherhood of Shadows, only six possess that title."

"That would actually be three now, Scorpion," Siann corrected with a smug look.

"I thought Ashrah was the Brotherhood's strongest warrior," Takeda said.

"Her sister Tesla takes that title. And unfortunately for us, these three are her subordinates."

"Tesla always did train nothing but the best," Sora boasted.

"Oh? Is that why the little boy spotted you so easily, Sora?" Mika teased.

"You're one to talk, Dalmatian face," she insulted in return. "with your slow reaction I'm surprised he didn't have you spotted."

"Enough!" Siann shouted. The two girls huffed and took their attention away from one another. Takeda's baffled face overtook any fear he had around the girls. "My apologies, hell spawn. Shall we get straight to business?" she asked.

"The boy is off limits," Hanzo stated. He looks to Takeda and points towards a distant destroyed pillar. Takeda slowly walks past Mika who eyes the boy up and down. Takeda feels an uncomfortable sensation throughout his body and his pace increases. Mika playfully turns her attention back toward Hanzo, mouth wide smiling as if she were struggling to speak.

"What deal did you make with the Elder Lords to bring him back?" she asked. Hanzo scrunched his face.

"That is not my son," his voice trembled as if holding back his anger.

"You move fast, master Hanzo," Siann joked. "That bed of yours is far too small to hold two people."

"He doesn't need a body if he has his spirit. He could've found a way to be a bit more…creative," Sora commented seductively. Hanzo could tell by the look on Takeda's face that the boy was on the verge of doing something rash.

"Ironic, isn't it?" he said. "Quan Chi's living corpses making fun of their elders like this."

"We are nothing like your friends here, Scorpion," Sora responded. "At least, not anymore that is."

"These are the remnants of the Lin Kuei from centuries ago. None of them are my comrades," he corrected.

"Are you sure?" Mika asked. "One of your hounds is related to the one who killed us the very same day. We never got payback for it thanks to Ashrah's dirty harlots. We never got payback against those three either thanks to Raiden's children."

"Would it be so wise to mock the thunder Lord in his own home, Mika?" Sora questioned.

"Sora," Siann yelled. "Shut the f*** up. Your worthless life is repulsing. If you're going to be soft as a shaved kitten, you should've stayed home."

"Lord Raiden may be a god, but you are not, red head."

"Ouuh, I smell a bloodbath brewin'," Mika said. "And as much as I'd love to wear one or both of your heads along my belt buckle, it's not you two's blood I'm here for." Siann and Sora held a deathly gaze toward one another for a moment before looking away.

"No one said you were the boss around here, Mika," Siann responded. "But you are right. Master Scorpion, you will be the one to pay for what those women did to us," she said.

"They can't be serious," Takeda whispered to himself. "How could they hate this woman so much that they'd kill a distant associate centuries later? They even called him master Scorpion. Wasn't he their ally?" Takeda looked at Sora, the only one of them who's feelings were clear to him. He could feel her trembling, but not in fear. This was the complete opposite of her feelings from before. But still, Takeda was not able to read the mind of one such as her, nor hear her heart. A normal person could never be so upset yet still hide it as she does. So why? Is what Hanzo said about them true? That can't be it because Hanzo's heart never stopped beating. Not as a Human. Not as a Specter. Not even in his grave.

"Takeda!" Hanzo called out. The boy left Sora's mind and looked toward him. "Remember all that I have taught you so far. This will be the proof you sought last night."

Siann and Mika begin thrusting their hands toward the ninja, shattering many of his fallen enemies in the process. Sora swings her foot towards the man. He ducks, only to look up and see the heel of the woman's boot coming down atop of him. He quickly rolls away and her heel slams onto the ground beside him. A deep crack in the Earth perfectly illustrated the strength of his enemies. As he props himself back on his feet, he is once again met by Siann as she attempts to land a blow against the man. Seeing her fail, the other girls join in. Hanzo simply dodges the girls' many attacks as they swiftly take a swipe at him from multiple directions.

Takeda watches in awe as it was much different from the time he watched his mentor face off against the Red Dragon's assassins. These women were much different. They were in a league beyond grunts like them. Their attacks were too quick for young Takeda to keep up, and their strength far surpasses anything a normal human could accomplish. The three girls put a bit of distance away from Hanzo with their fists held up. They were visibly tired as they breathed heavily. Hanzo, however, was as if he had done nothing the entire time. Aside from the visible dirt along his garments, there was neither sweat nor blood anywhere on his body.

Siann guides her eyes toward the boy but is immediately distracted when Hanzo slashes her fingers off. She yells in agony quivering her hand in front of her face. She seemed to be in a momentary state of shock as she had taken her attention away from Hanzo. Her blood litters the ground and still frozen bodies of the Lin Kuei warriors. Sora was in shock by the speed in which the attack occurred. Mika was angry and rushed in to attack the warrior alone.

"Kill that f***er," Siann cursed, "send him back to that b**** of his." Hanzo glances at Siann's fingers each time he dodges Mika's attacks. He realizes that her fingers were not regenerating as they're supposed to—possibly due to Quan Chi being no more.

"You three have nowhere left to go," he said continuing to dodge their attacks. "Quan Chi has fallen. His magic is barely allowing you three to live. I give one final chance. Walk away."

"We will walk on your grave and into the Himalayas, Scorpion," Siann said.

"Tesla is no longer here to guide you three. Ashrah's underlings are not around to coordinate attacks. You three would kill each other before the deed is done. You lack the discipline that the other Sisterhood excelled in. It has made you all sloppy. None of you have landed a single strike since this fight has begun. Further fighting is futile," he said. The girls pressed their fingernails against the palm of their hands.

"I've had enough of your bulls***," Sora said. The three of them jumped away from the ninja and positioned themselves in a zigzag in front of him. They maintained a safe distance and Hanzo knew they were brewing something deadly. It was the only formation they knew. One which would make his job much easier.

"May the Elder Lords have mercy on you all."

Hanzo raises his blade in the air across his right shoulder and closes his eyes. He takes a deep breath and releases it through his nose. His left foot moves forward by one foot while his right moves half a foot back. The three girls moved towards him at a faster speed than previous. Sora appears before him with her hands crossed over one another in front of Hanzo's neck. With one quick swing of her hands, Hanzo's head separated from his body—or so the woman thought. With one vertical swing of the blade, the women found themselves standing behind Hanzo.

"What…..was…," Siann slid her hand up her chest. She observed the dark red liquid dripping from the fingertips before tasting it. Sora was in shock as her left hand trembled, but her legs and right arm were numb.

"Well," Mika chuckled awkwardly, "ain't this…somethin'…"

"He was…right there," Sora said. "Right in front of me. His sword…wasn't even pointing in our direction."

"Sora…you moronic f***," Siann disrespected, "why the f***…are you asking…questions…that don't matter…"

Hanzo slowly slides his katana back into his sheath as the flames around the blade died down. As the hilt taps the upper surface of the sheath, the bodies of the girls jerk back. Their blood paints a stripe across the ground where each of them stood. Takeda was in awe. He thought the speed of the girls was something Hanzo wouldn't be able to match—although, they never laid a finger on him. But the speed of his attack just now was…there were no words to describe it.

Much further away from the fight, the Lin Kuei warriors Shelia and Kuai Liang watched the scuffle. Shelia smiles as she observes the energetic boy hoping around asking about the technique Hanzo just used. Hanzo shakes his head and starts walking away from the area along with the boy. As they moved further out, Shelia and Kuai Liang walked to the scene. Shelia looks at the frozen warriors, reminiscing on all that had occurred that day. She was lucky enough not to be in the thick of the blast, unlike many of her cohorts. As they arrived, they inspected the bodies of the girls lying a few feet away from one another.

"Scorpion has become much stronger over the years hasn't he?" Shelia asked rhetorically.

"That he has," Kuai Liang responded. "So, my brother did all this?"

"That is the power of the Dragon Medallion, Subzero," she said. "Why do you think our grand master holds it in his possession?"

"Our grandmaster?" Shelia snickered at his response.

"You're right," she said. She continues observing their bodies wondering if any of them would rise or if her efforts years ago were still in effect. "Scorpion is something else."

"Is something troubling you?"

"Its funny that my sister died at the hands of the Brotherhood centuries ago. Yet she beat these three. It's a shame that she wore herself out against amateurs like these."

"Her death is nothing to dwell on. Our mission has been completed."

"Yeah, should we tell him who that letter was really for?" Shelia asked.

"If these three said nothing, neither will we," Kuai Liang responded.

"His help would be much appreciated for our next move."

"He has done enough for us. It's best to leave him be. We do not know his current standing with Cryomancers like us, Frost."

"Right you are, Subzero," she said. "Right you are."

End of Chapter 5

We have finally made it to the home stretch. I've been feeling a bit sick for the past 3 days which has stifled my progress a bit. That is in combination with this chapter being longer than I was expecting (additional dialogue as well as reworking some of the plot holes & inconsistencies recognized along the way). There is only one last chapter left which may or may not be as long as this chapter. Look forward to that one being released sometime next week.

(Finale—Ceremony)